Pilgrimage

It came to be that I would participate in the 2006-2007 Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. For about a week I was part of three million or so Muslims going through the duties of the Hajj. Each sacred duty is outwardly symbolic and inwardly revealing.

Whether it was changing into a simple; unstitched white garment, circling the Ka’ba, retracing Hajar’s (Hagar) search for water for infant Ismail (Ishmail,) camping at Mount Arafat, gathering pebbles and stoning the jamarat, or leaving Mina, each of these tasks has either reinforced preexisting notions or has led me to new truths. Truths about what it means to be human, to be alive and to be part of this amalgam of creation that is commonly referred to as life.

The duties struck a chord at so many levels. Some realizations where straightforward, while the meaning of others was only appreciated during or after performing a task. However, all of the duties had a common factor of oneness, of unity in creation, and that we all belong to one God no matter where we come from, what language we speak, what we’ve done and what we intend to do.

To an outsider, the duties might seem absurd. Even Muslims might feel disheartened at some point as they’re performing the Hajj. Though with divine grace, one surprisingly overcomes doubts, fears, and falsifications.

The Hajj is a spiritual boot camp of sorts that takes anyone and everyone. The only requisite is faith. Blue collar or white collar, man or woman, young or old, rich or poor, Muslims in all their diversity come together for the common purpose of completing the Hajj, only to leave with personal insights that carry them throughout their lives. Insights that deal with the outer and inner struggles of going through life, with being true and with keeping the faith whatever the challenge.

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